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Democratic Transition News

"After decades of living in a pariah nation, Iranians seem to crave normalcy—but on their own terms. Figuring out their relationship with the outside world is a big part of the transition," writes Robin Wright.

When a country moves from conflict to peace, the transitional period includes a desire for justice that can take many forms. Arnaud Kurze’s research project explores the creation of “alternative transitional justice spaces” in post-conflict contexts, particularly concentrating on the role of art and the impact of social movements to address human rights abuses. Drawing on the former Yugoslavia, post-Mubarak Egypt and post-authoritarian Tunisia, he scrutinizes the work of contemporary youth activists and artists to deal with the past and foster sociopolitical change. In this edition of Wilson Center NOW, we speak with Kurze about his findings

Halfway through the six-year term of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Mexico went to the polls on June 7 for its largest mid-term elections, renewing all 500 seats in the lower house of Congress and 17 state legislatures, as well as selecting new governors for nine states and mayors for hundreds of cities across the country.

It's too early to know the full impact of yesterday's elections in Mexico, but there is no question that these were far more momentous than midterm elections usually are, with profound short-term and long-term consequences for the future of Mexico's political system. Andrew Selee provides four quick takeaways on the implications of the results.

The Mexico Institute is pleased to present a comprehensive guide to the best resources on the 2015 Mexican elections. This web resource will bring the latest polling numbers, analysis and opinion to our readers. The Mexico Institute's 2015 Elections Guide will be updated daily and will provide a one-stop shop for English language information on the vote.

FARC negotiator Pablo Catatumbo said that the recent deadly army raid represented a “step back,” but that the progress made since Colombia’s peace process talks began in 2012 should not be “thrown overboard.” So negotiations continue in spite of tensions and setbacks. A new survey conducted by researchers from Georgia State University seeks to inform the process by providing information on public opinion regarding transitional justice, trust, and overall support for negotiations. One of the researchers, and a Wilson Center Fellow provide context on the findings and their relevance to ongoing attempts to reach an agreement.